Minor in Neuroscience

Minor in Neuroscience

Neuroscience is an established, yet rapidly growing field that explores the molecular, cellular, and systems bases of neural function, as well as the neural basis of behavior and cognition.

The Neuroscience Minor offers students an opportunity to delve more deeply into this exciting and multifaceted discipline, whether to supplement a degree in biology, computer science, or engineering; to expand their understanding of cutting-edge research that regularly appears in the news; or to ready themselves for a neuroscience-based graduate program or career. Students who complete a neuroscience program are also equipped for educational and employment opportunities in research, teaching, medicine, and allied health.

Admissions and Prerequisites

Because Anatomy & Physiology I (B BIO 351) requires students to have completed the Introductory Biology series (B BIO 180, 200, and 220), these three introductory classes are prerequisites for the Neuroscience Minor. Upon successful completion of the Introductory Biology series with a grade of 2.0 or higher in each class, students will be allowed to declare the minor.

If you have declared your major, please contact your academic advisor at any time for assistance in adding the minor.

Program Requirements

Core Requirements - 15 credits

You must take all three of these courses.

B BIO 310 - Brain and Behavior (5 cr)

B BIO 351 - Principles of Anatomy and Physiology I (5 cr)

B BIO 480 - Neurobiology (5 cr). B BIO 480 can count towards the requirements of the Biology major or the Neuroscience minor, but not both.

Elective Requirements - 10 credits

You must take at least 10 credits of coursework from the following options.

B BIO 394 - Special Topics in Neuroscience (5 cr). B BIO 394 may be taken multiple times as long as the topic is different each time.

B BIO 355 - Behavioral Endocrinology (5 cr)

B BIO 385 - Animal Behavior (5 cr)

BIS 270 - Abnormal Psychology (5 cr)

BIS 422 - Clinical Psychology (5 cr)

B BIO 499 - Undergraduate Research in Biology. B BIO 499 research must be neuroscience-oriented and approved by the Neuroscience Curriculum Committee. Research opportunities depend on faculty availability, so you should not plan to use B BIO 499 as an elective for the minor. However, you can petition to have the credit count if you are already conducting neuroscience research.

Petitions

Neuroscience core or elective coursework that is not included on the above lists is considered on a case-by-case basis. If you have a syllabus or other detailed descriptive material for the class you wish to substitute, you may submit a petition.

Before taking a class or submitting a petition, please check in with School of STEM advising at stemadv&commat;uw.edu.